CHAP. I. Of the situation and plenty of the Pro­vince of Mary-Land.

MARY-LAND is a Province situated upon the large ex­tending bowels of America, under the Government of the Lord Baltemore, ad­jacent Northwardly upon the Confines of New-England, and neighbouring [Page 2] Southwardly upon Virginia, dwelling pleasantly upon the Bay of Chaesapike, between the Degrees of 36 and 38, in the Zone temperate, and by Mathe­matical computation is eleven hundred and odd Leagues in Longitude from England, being within her own im­braces extraordinary pleasant and fer­tile. Pleasant, in respect of the multi­tude of Navigable Rivers and Creeks that conveniently and most profitably lodge within the armes of her green, spreading, and delightful Woods; whose natural womb (by her plenty) maintains and preserves the several di­versities of Animals that rangingly in­habit her Woods; as she doth other­wise generously fructifie this piece of Earth with almost all sorts of Vegeta­bles, as well Flowers with their varieties of colours and smells, as Herbes and Roots with their several effects and operative vertues, that offer their bene­fits daily to supply the want of the In­habitant, whene're their necessities shall [Page 3] Sub-poena them to wait on their com­mands. So that he, who out of curio­sity desires to see the Landskip of the Creation drawn to the life, or to read Natures universal Herbal without book, may with the Opticks of a dis­creet discerning, view Mary-Land drest in her green and fragrant Mantle of the Spring. Neither do I think there is any place under the Heavenly altitude, or that has footing or room upon the circular Globe of this world, that can parallel this fertile and pleasant piece of ground in its multiplicity, or rather Natures extravagancy of a super-abounding plenty. For so much doth this Country increase in a swelling Spring-tide of rich variety and diver­sities of all things, not only common provisions that supply the reaching sto­mach of man with a satisfactory plenty, but also extends with its liberality and free convenient benefits to each sensi­tive faculty, according to their several desiring Appetites. So that had Nature [Page 4] made it her business, on purpose to have found out a situation for the Soul of profitable Ingenuity, she could not have fitted herself better in the traverse of the whole Universe, nor in convenienter terms have told man, Dwell here, live plentifully and be rich.

The Trees, Plants, Fruits, Flowers, and Roots that grow here in Mary-Land, are the only Emblems or Hiero­glyphicks of our Adamitical or Primi­tive situation, as well for their variety as odoriferous smells, together with their vertues, according to their several effects, kinds and properties, which still bear the Effigies of Innocency accor­ding to their original Grafts; which by their dumb vegetable Oratory, each hour speaks to the Inhabitant in silent acts, That they need not look for any other Terrestrial Paradice, to suspend or tyre their curiosity upon, while she is extant. For within her doth dwell so much of variety, so much of natural plenty, that there is not any thing that [Page 5] is or may be rare, but it inhabits within this plentious soyle: So that those parts of the Creation that have borne the Bell away (for many ages) for a vegetable plentiousness, must now in silence strike and vayle all, and whisper softly in the auditual parts of Mary-Land, that None but she in this dwells singular; and that as well for that she doth exceed in those Fruits, Plants, Trees and Roots, that dwell and grow in their several Clymes or habitable parts of the Earth besides, as the rare­ness and superexcellency of her own glory, which she flourishly abounds in, by the abundancy of reserved Rarities, such as the remainder of the World (with all its speculative art) never bore any occular testimony of as yet. I shall forbear to particularize those several sorts of Vegetables that flou­rishingly grows here, by reason of the vast tediousness that will attend upon the description, which therefore makes them much more fit for an [Page 6] Herbal, then a small Manuscript or History.

As for the wilde Animals of this Country, which loosely inhabits the Woods in multitudes, it is impossible to give you an exact description of them all, eonsidering the multiplicity as well as the diversity of so numerous an ex­tent of Creatures: But such as has fallen within the compass or prospect of my knowledge, those you shall know of; videlicet, the Deer, because they are oftner seen, and more participated of by the Inhabitants of the Land, whose acquaintance by a customary fa­miliarity becomes much more com­mon then the rest of Beasts that inhabit the Woods, by using themselves in Herds about the Christian Plantations. Their flesh, which in some places of this Province is the common provision the Inhabitants feed on, and which through the extreme glut and plenty of it, being daily killed by the Indians, and brought in to the English, as well as [Page 7] that which is killed by the Christian Inhabitant, that doth it more for recre­ation, then for the benefit they reap by it. I say, the flesh of Venison becomes (as to food) rather denyed, then any way esteemed or desired. And this I speak from an experimental know­ledge; For when I was under a Com­mand, and debarr'd of a four years ranging Liberty in the Province of Mary-Land, the Gentleman whom I served my conditional and prefixed time withall, had at one time in his house fourscore Venisons, besides plen­ty of other provisions to serve his Fa­mily nine months, they being but seven in number; so that before this Venison was brought to a period by eating, it so nauseated our appetites and sto­machs, that plain bread was rather courted and desired then it.

The Deer here neither in shape nor action differ from our Deer in England: The Park they traverse their ranging and unmeasured walks in, is bounded [Page 8] and impanell'd in with no other pales then the rough and billowed Ocean: They are also mighty numerous in the Woods, and are little or not at all affrighted at the face of a man, but (like the Docs of Whetstons Park) though their hydes are not altogether so gaudy to extract an admiration from the beholder, yet they will stand (al­most) till they be scratcht.

As for the Wolves, Bears, and Panthers of this Country, they inhabit commonly in great multitudes up in the remotest parts of the Continent; yet at some certain time they come down near the Plantations, but do little hurt or injury worth noting, and that which they do is of so degenerate and low a nature, (as in reference to the fierceness and heroick vigour that dwell in the same kind of Beasts in other Countries) that they are hardly worth mentioning: For the highest of their designs and circumventing reaches is but cowardly and base, only to steal a [Page 9] poor Pigg, or kill a lost and half starved Calf. The Effigies of a man terrifies them dreadfully, for they no sooner espy him but their hearts are at their mouths, and the spurs upon their heels, they (having no more manners then Beasts) gallop away, and never bid them farewell that are behind them.

The Elke, the Cat of the Mountain, the Rackoon, the Fox, the Beaver, the Otter, the Possum, the Hare, the Squirril, the Monack, the Musk-Rat, and several others (whom I'le omit for brevity sake) inhabit here in Mary-Land in several droves and troops, rang­ing the Woods at their pleasure.

The meat of most of these Crea­tures is good for eating, yet of no va­lue nor esteem here, by reason of the great plenty of other provisions, and are only kill'd by the Indians of the Coun­try for their Hydes and Furrs, which become very profitable to those that have the right way of traffiquing for them, as well as it redounds to the [Page 10] Indians that take the pains to catch them, and to slay and dress their several Hydes, selling and disposing them for such Commodities as their Heathenish fancy delights in.

As for those Beasts that were carried over at the first seating of the Country, to stock and increase the situation, as Cows, Horses, Sheep and Hogs, they are generally tame, and use near home, especially the Cows, Sheep and Horses. The Hogs, whose increase is innume­rable in the Woods, do disfrequent home more then the rest of Creatures that are look'd upon as tame, yet with little trouble and pains they are slain and made provision of. Now they that will with a right Historical Survey, view the Woods of Mary-Land in this particular, as in reference to Swine, must upon necessity judge this Land lineally descended from the Gadarean Territories.

Mary-Land (I must confess) cannot boast of her plenty of Sheep here, as [Page 11] other Countries; not but that they will thrive and increase here, as well as in any place of the World besides, but few desire them, because they com­monly draw down the Wolves among the Plantations, as well by the sweetness of their flesh, as by the humility of their nature, in not making a defensive re­sistance against the rough dealing of a ravenous Enemy. They who for cu­riosity will keep Sheep, may expect that after the Wolves have breathed them­selves all day in the Woods to sharpen their stomachs, they will come without fail and sup with them at night, though many times they surfeit themselves with the sawce that's dish'd out of the muzzle of a Gun, and so in the midst of their banquet (poor Animals) they often sleep with their Ancestors.

Fowls of all sorts and varieties dwell at their several times and seasons here in Mary-Land: The Turkey, the Wood­cock, the Pheasant, the Partrich, the Pigeon, and others, especially the [Page 12] Turkey, whom I have seen in whole hundreds in flights in the Woods of Mary-Land, being an extraordinary fat Fowl, whose flesh is very pleasant and sweet. These Fowls that I have named are intayled from generation to genera­tion to the Woods. The Swans, the Geese and Ducks (with other Water-Fowl) derogate in this point of setled residence; for they arrive in millionous multitudes in Mary-Land about the middle of September, and take their winged farewell about the midst of March: But while they do remain, and beleagure the borders of the shoar with their winged Dragoons, several of them are summoned by a Writ of Fieri fa­cias, to answer their presumptuous con­tempt upon a Spit.

As for Fish, which dwell in the watry tenements of the deep, and by a provi­dential greatness of power, is kept for the relief of several Countries in the world, (which would else sink under the rigid enemy of want) here in [Page 13] Mary-Land is a large sufficiency, and plenty of almost all sorts of Fishes, which live and inhabit within her seve­ral Rivers and Creeks, far beyond the apprehending or crediting of those that never saw the same, which with very much ease is catched, to the great re­freshment of the Inhabitants of that Province.

All sorts of Grain, as wheat, Rye, Barley, Oates, Pease, besides several others that have their original and birth from the fertile womb of this Land, (and no where else) they all grow, in­crease, and thrive here in Mary-Land, without the chargable and laborious manuring of the Land with Dung; in­creasing in such a measure and plenty, by the natural richness of the Earth, with the common, beneficial and con­venient showers of rain that usually wait upon the several Fields of Grain, (by a natural instinct) so that Famine (the dreadful Ghost of penury and want) is never known with his pale [Page 14] visage to haunt the Dominions of Mary-Land.

CHAP. II. Of the Government and natural dispo­sition of the People.

MARY-LAND, not from the remoteness of her situation, but from the regularity of her well-ordered Government, may (without sin, I think) be called Singular: And though she is not supported with such large Reve­nues as some of her Neighbours are, yet such is her wisdom in a reserved silence, and not in pomp, to shew her well-conditioned Estate, in relieving at a distance the proud poverty of those that wont be seen they want, as well as those which by undeniable necessities are drove upon the Rocks of pinching wants: Yet such a loathsome creature is a common and folding-handed Beg­ger, that upon the penalty of almost a perpetual▪ working in Imprisonment, they are not to appear, nor lurk near our vigilant and laborious dwellings. [Page 16] The Country hath received a general spleen and antipathy against the very name and nature of it; and though there were no Law provided (as there is) to suppress it, I am certainly con­fident, there is none within the Pro­vince that would lower themselves so much below the dignity of men to beg, as long as limbs and life keep house to­gether; so much is a vigilant industrious care esteem'd.

He that desires to see the real Plat­form of a quiet and sober Government extant, Superiority with a meek and yet commanding power sitting at the Helme, steering the actions of State quietly, through the multitude and di­versity of Opinionous waves that di­versly meet, let him look on Mary-Land with eyes admiring, and he'le then judge her, The Miracle of this Age.

Here the Roman Catholick, and the Protestant Episcopal, (whom the world would perswade have proclaimed open Wars irrevocably against each other) [Page 17] contrarywise concur in an unanimous parallel of friendship, and inseparable love intayled unto one another: All Inquisitions, Martyrdom, and Banish­ments are not so much as named, but unexpressably abhorr'd by each other.

The several Opinions and Sects that lodge within this Government, meet not together in mutinous contempts to disquiet the power that bears Rule, but with a reverend quietness obeys the legal commands of Authority. Here's never seen Five Monarchies in a Zealous Rebellion, opposing the Rights and Liberties of a true setled Government, or Monarchical Authority: Nor did I ever see (here in Mary-Land) any of those dancing Adamitical Sisters, that plead a primitive Innocency for their base obscenity, and naked deportment; but I conceive if some of them were there at some certain time of the year, between the Months of January and February, when the winds blow from the North-West quarter of the world, [Page 18] that it would both cool, and (I believe) convert the hottest of these Zealots from their burning and fiercest Con­cupiscence.

The Government of this Province doth continually, by all lawful means, strive to purge her Dominions from such base corroding humors, that would predominate upon the least smile of Liberty, did not the Laws check and bridle in those unwarranted and tumul­tuous Opinions. And truly, where a Kingdom, State or Government, keeps or cuts down the weeds of destructive Opinions, there must certainly be a blessed Harmony of quietness. And I really believe this Land or Govern­ment of Mary-Land may boast, that she enjoys as much quietness from the disturbance of Rebellious Opinions, as most States or Kingdoms do in the world: For here every man lives quiet­ly, and follows his labour and imploy­ment desiredly; and by the protection of the Laws, they are supported from [Page 19] those molestious troubles that ever attend upon the Commons of other States and Kingdoms, as well as from the Aquafortial operation of great and eating Taxes. Here's nothing to be levyed out of the Granaries of Corn; but contrarywise, by a Law every Do­mestick Governor of a Family is en­joyned to make or cause to be made so much Corn by a just limitation, as shall be sufficient for him and his Family: So that by this wise and Janus-like providence, the thin jawed Skeliton with his starv'd Carkess is never seen walking the Woods of Mary-Land to affrighten Children.

Once every year within this Province is an Assembly called, and out of every respective County (by the consent of the people) there is chosen a number of men, and to them is deliver'd up the Grievances of the Country; and they maturely debate the matters, and accord [...]ng to their Consciences make Laws for the general good of the peo­ple; [Page 20] and where any former Law that was made, seems and is prejudicial to the good or quietness of the Land, it is repeal'd. These men that determine on these matters for the Republique, are called Burgesses, and they com­monly fit in Junto about six weeks, being for the most part good ordinary Housholders of the several Counties, which do more by a plain and honest Conscience, then by artificial Syllo­gisms drest up in gilded Orations.

Here Suits and Tryals in Law sel­dome hold dispute two Terms or Courts, but according as the Equity of the cause appears is brought to a period. The Temples and Grays-Inne are clear out of fashion here: Marriot would sooner get a paunch-devouring meal for nothing, then for his invading Counsil. Here if the Lawyer had no­thing else to maintain him but his bawl­ing, he might button up his Chops, and burn his Buckrom Bag, or else hang it upon a pin untill its Antiquity [Page 21] had eaten it up with durt and dust▪ Then with a Spade, like his Grandsire Adam, turn up the face of the Creation, purchasing his bread by the sweat of his brows, that before was got by the mo­tionated Water-works of his jaws. So contrary to the Genius of the people, if not to the quiet Government of the Province, that the turbulent Spirit of continued and vexatious Law, with all its querks and evasions, is openly and most eagerly opposed, that might make matters either dubious, tedious, or trou­blesom. All other matters that would be ranging in contrary and improper Spheres, (in short) are here by the Power moderated, lower'd, and sub­dued. All villanous Outrages that are committed in other States, are not so much as known here: A man may walk in the open Woods as secure from being externally dissected, as in his own house or dwelling. So hateful is a Robber, that if but once ima­gin'd to be so, he's kept at a distance, [Page 22] and shun'd as the Pestilential noy­somness.

It is generally and very remarkably observed, That those whose Lives and Conversations have had no other gloss nor glory stampt on them in their own Country, but the stigmatization of baseness, were here (by the common civilities and deportments of the Inha­bitants of this Province) brought to detest and loath their former actions. Here the Constable hath no need of a train of Holberteers, that carry more Armour about them, then heart to guard him: Nor is he ever troubled to leave his Feathered Nest to some friend­ly successor, while he is placing of his Lanthern-horn Guard at the end of some suspicious Street, to ca [...]ch some Night-walker, or Batchelor of Leache­ry, that has taken his Degree three story high in a Bawdy-house Here's no Newgates for pilfering Felons, nor Ludgates for Debtors, nor any Bride­w [...]ls to lash the soul of Concupiscence [Page 23] into a chast Repentance. For as there is none of these Prisons in Mary-Land, so the merits of the Country deserves none, but if any be foully vitious, he is so reserv'd in it, that he seldom or never becomes popular. Common Ale-houses, (whose dwellings are the only Receptacles of debauchery and base­ness, and those Schools that trains up Youth, as well as Age, to ruine) in this Province there are none; neither hath Youth his swing or range in such a pro­fuse and unbridled liberty as in other Countries; for from an an [...]ient Custom at the primitive seating of the place, the Son works as well as the Servant, (an excellent cure for untam'd Youth) so that before they eat their bread, they are commonly taught how to earn it; which makes them by that time Age speaks them capable of receiving that which their Parents indulgency is ready to give them, and which partly is by their own laborious industry purchased, they manage it with such a serious, grave [Page 24] and watching care, as if they had been Masters of Families, trained up in that domestick and governing power from their Cradles. These Christian Na­tives of the Land, especially those of the Masculine Sex, are generally con­veniently confident, reservedly subtle, quick in apprehending, but slow in resolving; and where they spy profit sailing towards them with the wings of a prosperous gale, there they become much familiar. The Women differ something in this point, though not much: They are extreme bashful at the first view, but after a continuance of time hath brought them acquainted, there they become discreetly familiar, and are much more talkative then men. All Complemental Courtships, drest up in critical Rarities, are meer strangers to them, plain wit comes nearest their Genius; so that he that intends to Court a Mary-Land Girle, must have something more then the Tautologies of a long-winded speech to carry on his [Page 25] design, or else he may (for ought I know) fall under the contempt of her frown, and his own windy Oration.

One great part of the Inhabitants of this Province are desiredly Zealous, great pretenders to Holiness; and where any thing appears that carries on the Frontispiece of its Effigies the stamp of Religion, though fundamentally ne­ver so imperfect, they are suddenly taken with it, and out of an eager desire to any thing that's new, not weighing the sure matter in the Ballance of Rea­son, are very apt to be catcht. Qua­kerism is the only Opinion that bears the Bell away: The Anabaptists have little to say here, as well as in other places, since the Ghost of John of Leyden haunts their Conventicles The Adamite, Ranter, and Fift-Monarchy men, Mary-Land cannot, nay will not digest within her liberal stomach such corroding morsels: So that this Province is an utter Enemy to blasphe­mous and zealous Imprecations, drain'd [Page 26] from the Lymbeck of hellish and dam­nable Spirits, as well as profuse pro­phaness, that issues from the prodigality of none but crackt-brain Sots.

CHAP. III. The necessariness of Servitude proved, with the common usage of Servants in Mary-Land, together with their Priviledges.

AS there can be no Monarchy with­out the Supremacy of a King and Crown, nor no King without Subjects, nor any Parents without it be by the fruitful off-spring of Children; neither can there be any Masters, unless it be by the inferior Servitude of those that dwell under them, by a commanding enjoynment: And since it is ordained from the original and superabounding wisdom of all things, That there should be Degrees and Diversities amongst the Sons of men, in acknowledging of a Superiority from Inferiors to Superi­ors; the Servant with a reverent and befitting Obedience is as liable to this duty in a measurable performance to him whom he serves, as the loyalest [Page 28] of Subjects to his Prince. Then since it is a common and ordained Fate, that there must be Servants as well as Ma­sters, and that good Servitudes are those Colledges of Sobriety that checks in the giddy and wild-headed youth from his profuse and uneven course of life, by a limited constrain­ment, as well as it otherwise agrees with the moderate and discreet Servant: Why should there be such an exclusive Obstacle in the minds and unreasonable dispositions of many people, against the limited time of convenient and necessa­ry Servitude, when it is a thing so re­quisite, that the best of Kingdoms would be unhing'd from their quiet and well setled Government without it? Which levelling doctrine we here of England in this latter age (whose womb was truss'd out with nothing but confused Rebellion) have too much experienced, and was daily rung into the ears of the tumultuous Vulgar by the Bell-weather Sectaries of the Times: [Page 29] But (blessed be God) those Clouds are blown over, and the Government of the Kingdom coucht under a more stable form.

There is no truer Emblem of Con­fusion either in Monarchy or Dome­stick Governments, then when either the Subject, or the Servant, strives for the upper hand of his Prince, or Master, and to be equal with him, from whom he receives his present subsistance: Why then, if Servitude be so necessary that no place can be governed in order, nor people live without it, this may serve to tell those which prick up their ears and bray against it, That they are none but Asses, and deserve the Bridle of a strict commanding power to reine them in: For I'me certainly confi­dent, that there are several Thou­sands in most Kingdoms of Christen­dom, that could not at all live and subsist, unless they had served some prefixed time, to learn either some Trade, Art, or Science, and by either [Page 30] of them to extract their present live­lihood.

Then methinks this may stop the mouths of those that will undiscreetly compassionate them that dwell under necessary Servitudes; for let but Pa­rents of an indifferent capacity in E­states, when their Childrens age by computation speak them seventeen or eighteen years old, turn them loose to the wide world, without a seven years working Apprenticeship, (being just brought up to the bare formality of a little reading and writing) and you shall immediately see how weak and shiftless they'le be towards the main­taining and supporting of themselves; and (without either stealing or beg­ging) their bodies like a Sentinel must continually wait to see when their Souls will be frighted away by the pale Ghost of a starving want.

Then let such, where Providence hath ordained to live as Servants, either in England or beyond Sea, endure the [Page 31] prefixed yoak of their limited time with patience, and then in a small computa­tion of years, by an industrious endea­vour, they may become Masters and Mistresses of Families themselves. And let this be spoke to the deserved praise of Mary-Land, That the four years I served there were not to me so slavish, as a two years Servitude of a Handi­craft Apprenticeship was here in Lon­don; Volenti enim nil difficile: Not that I write this to seduce or delude any, or to draw them from their native soyle, but out of a love to my Country­men, whom in the general I wish well to, and that the lowest of them may live in such a capacity of Estate, as that the bare interest of their Livelihoods might not altogether depend upon persons of the greatest extendments.

Now those whose abilities here in England are capable of maintaining themselves in any reasonable and hand­som manner, they had best so to re­main, lest the roughness of the Ocean, [Page 32] together with the staring visages of the wilde Animals, which they may see after their arrival into the Country, may alter the natural dispositions of their bodies, that the stay'd and solid part that kept its motion by Doctor Trigs purgationary operation, may run beyond the byas of the wheel in a vio­lent and laxative confusion.

Now contrarywise, they who are low, and make bare shifts to buoy themselves up above the shabby center of beggarly and incident casualties, I heartily could wish the removal of some of them into Mary-Land, which would make much better for them that stay'd behind, as well as it would advantage those that went.

They whose abilities cannot extend to purchase their own transportation over into Mary-Land, (and surely he that cannot command so small a sum for so great a matter, his life must needs be mighty low and dejected) I say they may for the debarment of a four [Page 33] years sordid liberty, go over into this Province and there live plentiously well. And what's a four years Servitude to advantage a man all the remainder of his dayes, making his predecessors hap­py in his sufficient abilities, which he at­tained to partly by the restrainment of so small a time?

Now those that commit themselves unto the care of the Merchant to carry them over, they need not trouble them­selves with any inquisitive search touch­ing their Voyage; for there is such an honest care and provision made for them all the time they remain aboard the Ship, and are sailing over, that they want for nothing that is necessary and convenient.

The Merchant commonly before they go aboard the Ship, or set them­selves in any forwardness for their Voy­age, has Conditions of Agreements drawn between him and those that by a voluntary consent become his Servants, to serve him, his Heirs or Assigns, ac­cording [Page 34] as they in their primitive ac­quaintance have made their bargain, some two, some three, some four years; and whatever the Master or Servant tyes himself up to here in England by Condition, the Laws of the Province will force a performance of when they come there: Yet here is this Priviledge in it when they arrive, If they dwell not with the Merchant they made their first agreement withall, they may choose whom they will serve their prefixed time with; and after their curiosity has pitcht on one whom they think fit for their turn, and that they may live well withall, the Merchant makes an Assign­ment of the Indenture over to him whom they of their free will have cho­sen to be their Master, in the same na­ture as we here in England (and no otherwise) turn over Covenant Ser­vants or Apprentices from one Master to another. Then let those whose chaps are alwayes breathing forth those filthy dregs of abusive exclamations, [Page 35] which are Lymbeckt from their sottish and preposterous brains, against this Country of Mary-Land, saying, That those which are transported over thither, are sold in open Market for Slaves, and draw in Carts like Horses; which is so damnable an untruth, that if they should search to the very Center of Hell, and enquire for a Lye of the most antient and damned stamp, I confident­ly believe they could not find one to parallel this: For know, That the Ser­vants here in Mary-Land of all Colo­nies, distant or remote Plantations, have the least cause to complain, either for strictness of Servitude, want of Provi­sions, or need of Apparel: Five dayes and a half in the Summer weeks is the alotted time that they work in; and for two months, when the Sun predominates in the highest pitch of his heat, they claim an antient and customary Priviledge, to repose them­selves three hours in the day with­in the house, and this is undenia­bly [Page 36] granted to them that work in the Fields.

In the Winter time, which lasteth three months, ( viz.) December, Ja­nuary, and February, they do little or no work or imployment, save cutting of wood to make good fires to sit by, unless their Ingenuity will prompt them to hunt the Deer, or Bear, or recreate themselves in Fowling, to slaughter the Swans, Geese, and Turkeys, (which this Country affords in a most plentiful manner:) For every Servant has a Gun, Powder and Shot allowed him, to sport him withall on all Holidayes and leasu­rable times, if he be capable of using it, or be willing to learn.

Now those Servants which come over into this Province, being Artifi­cers, they never (during their Servi­tude) work in the Fields, or do any other imployment save that which their Handicraft and Mechanick endeavors are capable of putting them upon, and are esteem'd as well by their Masters, [Page 37] as those that imploy them, above mea­sure. He that's a Tradesman here in Mary-Land, (though a Servant) lives as well as most common Handicrafts do in London, though they may want something of that Liberty which Free­men have, to go and come at their plea­sure; yet if it were rightly understood and considered, what most of the Li­berties of the several poor Tradesmen are taken up about, and what a care and trouble attends that thing they call Li­berty, which according to the common translation is but Idleness, and (if weighed in the Ballance of a just Rea­son) will be found to be much heavier and cloggy then the four years restrain­ment of a Mary-Land Servitude. He that lives in the nature of a Servant in this Province, must serve but four years by the Custom of the Country; and when the expiration of his time speaks him a Freeman, there's a Law in the Province, that enjoyns his Master whom he hath served to give him Fifty Acres [Page 38] of Land, Corn to serve him a whole year, three Sutes of Apparel, with things necessary to them, and Tools to work withall; so that they are no sooner free, but they are ready to set up for themselves, and when once entred, they live passingly well.

The Women that go over into this Province as Servants, have the best luck here as in any place of the world besides; for they are no sooner on shoar, but they are courted into a Co­pulative Matrimony, which some of them (for ought I know) had they not come to such a Market with their Virginity, might have kept it by them untill it had been mouldy, unless they had let it out by a yearly rent to some of the Inhabitants of Lewknors-lane, or made a Deed of Gift of it to Mother Coney, having only a poor stipend out of it, untill the Gallows or Hospital cal­led them away. Men have not altoge­ther so good luck as Women in this kind, or natural preferment, without [Page 39] they be good Rhetoricians, and well vers'd in the Art of perswasion, then (probably) they may ryvet themselves in the time of their Servitude into the private and reserved favour of their Mi­stress, if Age speak their Master defi­cient.

In short, touching the Servants of this Province, they live well in the time of their Service, and by their restrain­ment in that time, they are made capa­ble of living much better when they come to be free; which in several other parts of the world I have observed, That after some Servants have brought their indented and limited time to a just and legal period by Servitude, they have been much more incapable of sup­porting themselves from sinking into the Gulf of a slavish, poor, fettered, and intangled life, then all the fastness of their prefixed time did involve them in before.

Now the main and principal Reason of those incident casualties, that wait [Page 40] continually upon the residencies of most poor Artificers, is (I gather) from the multiplicity or innumerableness of those several Companies of Tradesmen, that dwell so closely and stiflingly to­gether in one and the same place, that like the chafing Gum in Watered-Tabby, they eat into the folds of one anothers Estates. And this might easi­ly be remedied, would but some of them remove and disperse distantly where want and necessity calls for them; their dwellings (I am confident) would be much larger, and their conditions much better, as well in reference to their Estates, as to the satisfactoriness of their minds; having a continual im­ployment, and from that imployment a continual benefit, without either beg­ging, seducing, or flat [...]ering for it, en­croaching that one month from one of the same profession, that they are hea­ved out themselves the next. For I have observed on the other side of Mary-Land, that the whole course of [Page 41] most Mechanical endeavors, is to catch, snatch, and undervalue one another, to get a little work, or a Customer; which when they have attained by their low-built and sneaking circumventings, it stands upon so flashy, mutable, and transitory a foundation, that the best of his hopes is commonly extinguisht before the poor undervalued Trades­man is warm in the enjoyment of his Customer.

Then did not a cloud of low and base Cowardize eclipse the Spirits of these men, these things might easily be diverted; but they had as live take a Bear by the tooth, as think of leaving their own Country, though they live among their own National people, and are governed by the same Laws they have here, yet all this wont do with them; and all the Reason they can render to the contrary is, There's a great Sea betwixt them and Mary-Land, and in that Sea there are Fishes, and not only Fishes but great Fishes, and then [Page 42] should a Ship meet with such an incon­siderable encounter as a Whale, one blow with his tayle, and then Lord have Mercy upon us: Yet meet with these men in their common Exchange, which is one story high in the bottom of a Cellar, disputing over a Black-pot, it would be monstrously dreadful here to insert the particulars, one swearing that he was the first that scaled the Walls of Dundee, when the Bullets flew about their ears as thick as Hail-stones usually fall from the Sky; which if it were but rightly examined, the most dangerous Engagement that ever he was in, was but at one of the flashy battels at Finsbury, where commonly there's more Custard greedily devou­red, then men prejudiced by the rigour of the War. Others of this Company relating their several dreadful exploits, and when they are just entring into the particulars, let but one step in and in­terrupt their discourse, by telling them of a Sea Voyage, and the violency of [Page 43] storms that attends it, and that there are no back-doors to run out at, which they call, a handsom Retreat and Charge again; the apprehensive danger of this is so powerful and penetrating on them, that a damp sweat immediately in­volves their Microcosm, so that Mar­gery the old Matron of the Cellar, is fain to run for a half-peny-worth of Angelica to rub their nostrils; and though the Port-hole of their bodies has been stopt from a convenient Eva­cuation some several months, they'le need no other Suppository to open the Orifice of their Esculent faculties then this Relation, as their Drawers or Breeches can more at large demon­strate to the inquisitive search of the curious.

Now I know that some will be apt to judge, that I have written this last part out of derision to some of my poor Mechanick Country-men: Truly I must needs tell those to their face that think so of me, that they prejudice me [Page 44] extremely, by censuring me as guilty of any such crime: What I have written is only to display the sordidness of their dispositions, who rather then they will remove to another Country to live plentiously well, and give their Neighbors more Elbow-room and space to breath in, they will croud and throng upon one another, with the pressure of a beggarly and unnecessary weight.

That which I have to say more in this business, is a hearty and desirous wish, that the several poor Tradesmen here in London that I know, and have borne an occular testimony of their want, might live so free from care as I did when I dwelt in the bonds of a four years Servitude in Mary-Land.

CHAP. IV. Upon Trafique, and what Merchan­dizing Commodities this Province affords, also how Tobacco is planted and made fit for Commerce.

TRafique, Commerce, and Trade, are those great wheeles that by their circular and continued motion, turn into most Kingdoms of the Earth [Page 46] the plenty of abundant Riches that they are commonly fed withall: For Tra­fique in his right description, is the very Soul of a Kingdom; and should but Fate ordain a removal of it for some years, from the richest and most popu­lous Monarchy that dwells in the most fertile clyme of the whole Universe, he would soon find by a woful experiment, the miss and loss of so reviving a sup­porter. And I am certainly confident, that England would as soon feel her feebleness by withdrawment of so great an upholder; as well in reference to the internal and healthful preservative of her Inhabitants, for want of those Medici­nal Drugs that are landed upon her Coast every year, as the external pro­fits, Glory and beneficial Graces that accrue by her.

Paracelsus might knock down his Forge, if Trafique and Commerce should once cease, and grynde the hilt of his Sword into Powder, and take some of the Infusion to make him so [Page 47] valorous, that he might cut his own Throat in the honor of Mercury: Galen might then burn his Herbal, and like Joseph of Arimathea, build him a Tomb in his Garden, and so rest from his labours: Our Physical Collegians of London would have no cause then to thunder Fire-balls at Nich. Culpeppers Dispensatory: All Herbs, Roots, and Medicines would bear their original christening, that the ignorant might understand them: Album grecum would not be Album grecum then, but a Dogs turd would be a Dogs turd in plain terms, in spight of their teeth.

If Trade should once cease, the Custom-house would soon miss her hundreds and thousands Hogs-heads of Tobacco▪ that use to be throng in her every year, as well as the Grocers would in their Ware-houses and Boxes, the Gentry and Commonalty in their Pipes, the Physician in his Drugs and Medicinal Compositions: The [Page 48] (leering) Waiters for want of imploy­ment, might (like so many Diogenes) intomb themselves in their empty Casks, and rouling themselves off the Key into the Thames, there wander up and down from tide to tide in contem­plation of Aristotles unresolved cu­riosity, until the rottenness of their cir­cular habitation give them a Quietus est, and fairly surrender them up into the custody of those who both for professi­on, disposition and nature, lay as near claim to them, as if they both tumbled in one belly, and for name they jump alike, being according to the original translation both Sharkes.

Silks and Cambricks, and Lawns to make sleeves, would be as soon miss'd at Court, as Gold and Silver would be in the Mint and Pockets: The Low-Country Soldier would be at a cold stand for Outlandish Furrs to make him Muffs, to keep his ten similitudes warm in the Winter, as well as the Furrier for want of Skins to uphold his Trade.

[Page 49]Should Commerce once cease, there is no Country in the habitable world but would undoubtedly miss that flou­rishing, splendid and rich gallantry of Equipage, that Trafique maintained and drest her up in, before she received that fatal Eclipse: England, France, Germany and Spain, together with all the Kingdoms —

But stop (good Muse) lest I should, like the Parson of Pancras, run so far from my Text in half an hour, that a two hours trot back again would hardly fetch it up: I had best while I am alive in my Doctrine, to think again of Mary-Land, lest the business of other Coun­tries take up so much room in my brain, that I forget and bury her in oblivion.

The three main Commodities this Country affords for Trafique, are To­bacco, Furrs, and Flesh. Furrs and Skins, as Beavers, Otters, Musk-Rats, Rackoons, Wild-Cats, and Elke or Buffeloe, with divers others, which [Page 50] were first made vendible by the Indians of the Country, and sold to the Inha­bitant, and by them to the Merchant, and so transported into England and other places where it becomes most commodious.

Tobacco is the only solid Staple Commodity of this Province: The use of it was first found out by the Indians many Ages agoe, and trans­ferr'd into Christendom by that great Discoverer of America Columbus: It's generally made by all the Inhabi­tants of this Province, and between the months of March and April they sow the seed, (which is much smaller then Mustard-seed) in small beds and pat­ches digg'd up and made so by art, and about May the Plants commonly appear green in those beds: In June they are transplanted from their beds, and set in little hillocks in distant rowes, dug up for the same purpose; some twice or thrice they are weeded, and succour­ed from their illegitimate Leaves that [Page 51] would be peeping out from the body of the Stalk. They top the several Plants as they find occasion in their predominating rankness: About the middle of September they cut the To­bacco down, and carry it into houses, (made for that purpose) to bring it to its purity: And after it has attained by a convenient attendance upon time, to its perfection, it is then tyed up in bundles, and packt into Hogs-heads, and then laid by for the Trade.

Between November and January there arrives in this Province Shipping to the number of twenty sail and up­wards, all Merchant-men loaden with Commodities to Trafique and dispose of, trucking with the Planter for Silks, Hollands, Serges, and Broad-clothes, with other necessary Goods, priz'd at such and such rates as shall be judg'd on is fair and legal, for Tobacco at so much the pound, and advantage on both sides considered; the Planter for his work, and the Merchant for adven­turing [Page 52] himself and his Commodity in­to so far a Country: Thus is the Trade on both sides drove on with a fair and honest Decorum.

The Inhabitants of this Province are seldom or never put to the affrightment of being robb'd of their money, nor to dirty their Fingers by telling of vast sums: They have more bags to carry Corn, then Coyn; and though they want, but why should I call that a want which is only a necessary miss? the very effects of the dirt of this Province affords as great a profit to the general Inhabitant, as the Gold of Peru doth to the straight-breecht Commonalty of the Spaniard.

Our Shops and Exchanges of Mary-Land, are the Merchants Store-houses, where with few words and protestations Goods are bought and delivered; not like those Shop-keepers Boys in Lon­don, that continually cry, What do ye lack Sir? What d' ye buy? yelping with so wide a mouth, as if some Apo­thecary [Page 53] had hired their mouths to stand open to catch Gnats and Vagabond Flyes in.

Tobacco is the currant Coyn of Mary-Land, and will sooner purchase Commodities from the Merchant, then money. I must confess the New-England men that trade into this Pro­vince, had rather have fat Pork for their Goods, then Tobacco or Furrs; which I conceive is, because their bo­dies being fast bound up with the cords of restringent Zeal, they are fain to make use of the lineaments of this Non-Canaanite creature physically to loosen them; for a bit of a pound upon a two-peny Rye loaf, according to the original Receipt, will bring the costiv'st red-ear'd Zealot in some three hours time to a fine stool, if methodically ob­served.

Medera-Wines, Sugars, Salt, Wickar-Chairs, and Tin Candlesticks, is the most of the Commodities they bring in: They arrive in Mary-Land [Page 54] about September, being most of them Ketches and Barkes, and such small Vessels, and those dispersing themselves into several small Creeks of this Pro­vince, to sell and dispose of their Commodities, where they know the Market is most fit for their small Ad­ventures.

Barbadoes, together with the several adjacent Islands, has much Provision yearly from this Province: And though these Sun-burnt Phaetons think to out­vye Mary-Land in their Silks and Puffs, daily speaking against her whom their necessities makes them beholding to, and like so many Don Diego [...]s that be­cackt Pauls, cock their Felts and look big upon't; yet if a m [...]n could go down into their infernals, and see how it fares with them there, I believe he would hardly find any other Spirit to buoy them up, then the ill-visaged Ghost of want, that continually wanders from gut to gut to feed upon the undigested rynes of Potatoes.